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Voice is distinct in writing and music. How do students put their own voice into their writing so the reader will know who is speaking? Students will draw connections between the voices in music and voices found in literature to increase their understanding of how to use voice in their writings.

Students write a descriptive essay explaining their thoughts and feelings while listening to Beethoven’s 5th Symphony, learning how to describe the musical elements that cause them to feel this way, and transpose these feelings into a watercolor art piece. The students will present their essay and art work orally, and act out their responses during a physical education exercise.

Students learn that it is possible to use some of the same strategies for understanding music that we use to understand literature. Students have an opportunity to identify a musical theme when played by in a variety of styles.

Students discover how music can create a visual image in one’s mind as they listen to Beethoven’s Sixth Symphony – Pastoral. As the image takes shape, the students create a visual representation of their image to include the aspects of nature which Beethoven included in this wonderful composition.

Can earthquakes write music? Using seismograms and music score sheets, students record the earth’s movements to create Earthquake Symphonies. Students listen to and analysis the music of Beethoven’s Eroica and how it relates to the movement of the earth.

Can we hear the sounds of music? Students will predict how well they think they can detect the dynamics of music by well known composers. Through scientific inquiry, students will create an entry for the science fair which compares predictions with data collected by a Quacker Tracker while their musical selection is played.

Students will have made visual and numerical representations of change by making aural observations of the musical dynamics of a recorded excerpt from Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, first movement. They will record the data in a bar graph and make observations about the changes and effects, which they may apply as a storytelling device.

This lesson is designed to help students gain understanding of Beethoven and his music. We will research Beethoven’s life and music and will compose a letter to him. We will discuss how Beethoven used instrumentation or timbre, dynamics and tempo, and other elements of music to evoke a large variety of emotions for those listening to his music. We will then use the book Sing My Song: A Kid’s Guide to Songwriting by Steve Seskin, to work collaboratively to compose a song with a message that we feel is important to our listeners.

Through this lesson students have the opportunity to research a classical composer of their choosing. This lesson involves the use of different skills such as: reading, translation, writing, and speaking in Spanish. Furthermore, students will be able to analyze their composer's life, and present feedback and insight on what they have learned.